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With what the big American three have been doing in recent years, fans are worried about the future of American Muscle cars. The formula of affordable performance has always captivated the hearts and minds of car enthusiasts, but the recent transition to all-electric vehicles paints a grim picture. As it stands, the Ford Mustang is the last bastion of American V-8 Muscle cars, but even that model is slated to become a hybrid.
Then, there is the Mustang Mach-E GT, which I test-drove awhile back, which opened a new branch in the Mustang lineage. The Camaro is rumored to become an all-electric sedan, and the Dodge Charger Daytona did not get the reception Stellantis hoped for. But not all is bad, since you can benefit from the EV Muscle car's negative reception.
Dodge Charger Daytona's mixed reception and the demise of Muscle cars
It is hardly a surprise that the Dodge Charger Daytona EV is not a sales hit. The EV segment is heavily saturated, with Tesla still owning a big chunk of the segment. The Charger EV was to compete with the Tesla Model S, specifically the Long Range, which packs an identical 670 horsepower as Dodge's electric “Muscle car”.
During the first half of 2025, Dodge sold just 1,947 Charger Daytona EVs. To put things in perspective, 2024 was the last model year of the previous-generation Challenger, and for that year, the company sold 21,321 examples. This is still a major decline compared to 2023, when Dodge sold 46,732 Challengers. This is despite the fact that the last Challenger ran on the outdated, Mercedes-derived LX platform for nearly two decades.
Sold for way under MSRP
This made me want to check what the Dodge Charger Daytona EV retails for in 2025. Chrysler decided to discontinue the model due to a lack of interest from buyers, and this has reflected on prices. I checked various websites like Cars.com and found that pretty much all Dodge Charger EVs are sold for anywhere from $4,000 to over $10,000 under MSRP, depending on which variant you are looking at.
For 2025, the Dodge Charger Daytona EV has a starting MSRP of $61,590. If the base R/T's 496 horsepower and 404 pound-feet are not peppy enough for you, the Scat Pack bumps those numbers up to 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet. That one starts at $75,185.
Dealers are scrambling to get these Charger Daytona off the lot, which is why we see amazing deals now, especially for the base Charger R/T, which Dodge will discontinue for 2026, in favor of a more powerful, four-door model.
While browsing dealers’ inventory, I frequently come across 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/Ts listed for around $50,000-$53,000. Things aren't much different with the range-topping (for now) Scat Pack, which you can frequently find listed for around $70,000, but you don't need to spend too much time to find the range-topping Charger Daytona for as little as $65,000 – a whopping $10,000 under MSRP.
I would like to point out that this isn't specific to a certain region either. Even in states like California, where we see the highest retail prices, the above-mentioned numbers hold.
Dodge owned up to its mistake by making the Charger EV
Dwindling demand tends to lower prices, and that's exactly what we see with the Dodge Charger Daytona EV. It appears, discontinuing one of the most iconic American Muscle cars and bringing it back as an EV with an artificial sound, reminiscent of early Need for Speed games, doesn't win the hearts and minds of Muscle car aficionados. Who would have guessed?
Luckily, Dodge owned its mistake and is planning to make things right, by bringing back the V-8. So far, the HEMI V-8 has returned for the RAM truck lineup, but we know a new Charger Hellcat is also cooking. The only real issue with the return of Dodge's HEMI V-8 is that it could hurt sales of the soon-to-arrive Charger Six Pack, which will feature the company's new Hurricane inline-six engine, which promises near-2JZ performance potential.
By making it all-electric, Dodge put the Charger Daytona in a bit of a pickle, as it must compete with more established and better-received models in the segment, like the Tesla Model S. With current prices being at an all-time low, would you be willing to give the Dodge Charger Daytona EV a chance, despite not having a V-8? Or would you rather wait for the return of the V-8 Charger? I am curious to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.
Image source: 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona press kit
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